[sustran] Re: Taxi operation

[Debi Goenka]

Hi folks

Have been following the discussion on Mumbai taxis with interest.

Some comments -

There are about 55,000 taxis registered in Mumbai and about 105,000 auto
rickshaws - the latter are allowed to operate only in the suburbs of Mumbai.

The law allows one person to own only one taxi or rickshaw - owning/driving
these vehicles is a job creation activity - therefore very important.

However, this rule is subverted by a powerful group of people (some of them
connected with the unions) who buy vehicles in other people's names and then
rent them out to drivers on 8 hour/12 hour shifts. (It is not mandatory that
the vehicles should be owner driven.)

There is general consensus that there are far too many taxis and rickshaws
in Mumbai - a guessestimate of a more reasonable figure of what is ideal for
the city is perhaps 30,000 taxis, and maybe (a big maybe!) 60,000 rickshaws.
Therefore, most of the time, there is a large population of empty vehicles
blocking road space at any point of time.

Of these 55,000 taxis, there are a few thousand Air conditioned taxis
(relatively new) that charge more than the normal yellow and black tops -
these are painted blue. Many of these taxis have mobile phones, and you can
call for a taxi.

A very large portion of the non a.c. taxis are old - probably more than 30
years old !! They are required to obtain annual "fitness" certificates from
the regulatory authorities, and they manage to do this with ease despite
their pathetic condition.

Due to acute space constraints in Mumbai, there is an acute crisis re
parking space, and it has been a long standing grouse from the taxi
operators that the authorities have not provided them with adequate taxi
stands. There will therefore be great resistance to paying parking charges.

I understand that there are more than 2 taxi unions in operation, and
several autorickshaw ones as well.

Any solutions to improving the problem will need to take into account these
issues as well.

Cheers

Debi


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Debi Goenka
Bombay Environmental Action Group

e-mail: debi at beag.net

(Please note that debi at powersurfer.net will be discontinued shortly)

Environmental Education Office

Kalbadevi Municipal School
# 54, 2nd floor, Mumbai 400002

Tel:91-22-22423126 Tfax:91-22-22426385


Residence

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Powai Mumbai 400076

Tel:91-22-25700638   Tfax:91-22-25701459

Cell - +91 98200 86404
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